WATER SOLUBLE VITAMINS RECIPE SHEET
SCIENTIFIC NUTRITION NAME: ______
Stir fry is an older cooking technique most often seen in Asian cooking, but it has gained popularity since the 1980’s. It has advantages of fast, easy, healthy cooking. Since food is cooked quickly, vitamins are not so easily destroyed by heat. Fats used are in very limited quantities and are unsaturated. Any liquids or fats used in the stir fry are incorporated into the food, rather than drained away, so vitamins that dissolve into the water or fat are retained.
The first rule of thumb in stir fry is to remember to think smaller. Meats and vegetables should be cut into small pieces before cooking. Think ‘thumb-size’ for chunks of vegetables, or ‘slivers’. Stir fry also emphasizes fresh flavors and textures, so nothing should be overcooked.
Chicken breast, beef, pork, and tofu make a good protein foundation for the stir fry. The cook starts by cooking the meat in a small amount of fat, about 2 tablespoons, over medium-high heat, until it is cooked through. Then, the cook can pour in a small amount of water to deglaze the pan and mix it in with the browned bits from the pan. The vegetables go in next, and the cook stirs them around with the meat as they cook. This only takes about 5-7 minutes. The flavoring sauce can be added while the vegetables are cooking or just before serving.
The stir fry can be served over rice or noodles OR the rice or noodles can be mixed with the stir fry before serving.
Chicken-Vegetable Stir Fry
2 T. oil
½ cup chopped onion
1 – 10 oz. chicken breast cut in short strips
3 T. water
3 cups assorted cut up vegetables (cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, red and/or green peppers, carrots, mushrooms, celery, water chestnuts, etc.*)
¼ cup soy sauce
4 cups bean sprouts
In a large skillet or wok, heat oil. Add onion and chicken, and cook ‘til onion is softened but not brown and chicken is no longer pink. Add water. Stir in vegetables and soy sauce. Stir and fry until vegetables are tender, but still crisp. Serve over hot rice.
* The vegetables we’re using today are bold-faced.
Each kitchen group will contribute to the demonstration today. Please follow the directions below. When you are finished with your ‘assignment’, return to the demonstration counter with the ingredients:
Kitchen 1:
A. Get out and bring your glass cutting board and a chef’s knife to the demonstration. Also get out and bring your 1 cup glass measuring cup, your small glass custard cup, and a set of measuring spoons to the demonstration.
B. When instructed, you will return to your kitchen area and measure the soy sauce into the measuring cup and the water into the custard cup.
C. Take the chicken back to your kitchen and complete cutting it as shown. Be sure to use soap and water and thorougly clean the work areas, equipment, and your hands to cross contamination and avoid campylobacter poisoning.
D. When you will return to your kitchen area, finish opening and thoroughly draining 2 cans of bean sprouts, as it was shown to you.
E. Using the measuring spoons and the wok from your kitchen, measure 2 T. of oil into the wok. Bring this wok to the demonstration counter.
F. Following package directions, heat the rice until hot.
Kitchen 2:
A. Get out and bring your wooden cutting board and a chef’s knife to the demonstration.
B. When instructed, you will return to your kitchen, and chop and measure ½ cup of onion.
C. Finish cleaning and cutting ½ of the green pepper into thin slivers about 1 ½ inches long, as shown.
Kitchen 3:
A. Get out and bring your wooden cutting board and a chef’s knife to the demonstration.
B. When instructed, you will return to your kitchen. Finish cutting the cabbage into shreds as shown.
C. Finish cutting the celery into diagonal slices.
Kitchen 4:
A. Get out and bring your wooden cutting board and a chef’s knife to the demonstration.
B. When instructed, you will return to your kitchen. Finish cutting the broccoli into small flowerettes as shown.
C. Clean and finely chop ¼ cup of red pepper. (about ¼” pieces)
Kitchen 5:
A. Get out and bring your wooden cutting board and a chef’s knife to the demonstration.
B. When instructed, you will return to your kitchen. Finish cleaning and cutting the carrots into short slivers.
C. Drain and finish cutting water chestnuts into thin slices.
Your name: ______What exactly did you do today to contribute to the success of today’s lab?